The sending off of Samuel Nunn just after the break was the turning point after a goalless first half, with the Needham centre back receiving a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on Petrit Elbi.

With the man advantage Aveley capitalised when substitute Daryl Atkins opened the scoring with a cute finish past the onrushing James Shea.

But despite being a man light Needham continued to press for an equaliser and were rewarded late on when Sam Newson got on the end of a Oliver Fenn knock down to send both sides home with a point.

In the grand scheme of things a point against an impressive Needham side was something Aveley manager Justin Gardner would have probably taken before the game.

And after an embarrassing defeat to Waltham Forest at home 48 hours earlier, Gardner’s side needed to start tonight quickly, with the Millers beginning the match looking the brighter of the two sides.

But it was the visitors who created the first openings of the game, both of which through Sam Newson.

Newson almost capitalised on some hesitant defending from debutante Ryan O’Rawe to almost nip in at Jack Giddens’ near post. And after Giddens had fumbled the resulting corner some last ditch defending was all that stopped Newson from opening the scoring as his close range effort was blocked.

Those half chances sparked Needham into life and a long range effort from Luke Ingram was tipped around the post by Giddens, with a the resulting short corner routine being flicked up and over the crossbar as Needham were beginning to take charge.

Aryan Tajbakhsh tried turning the tide back towards the home side by running at the Needham back line but his effort with the outside of the boot went harmlessly wide.

And it was only to be a brief respite as Ingram forced Giddens into a reaction save with his feet after a corner had been headed out towards the midfielder on the edge of the box. Ingram struck the ball first time only to see it cleared by Giddens with no one free to mop up the rebound.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure as captain, Oliver Fenn, chanced his arm from long range and, as the half came to a close, Kemal Izzet got on the end of a Newson stabbed cross at the near post but he couldn’t find the target as we reached the break.

Right from the off in the second half Needham were on the front foot again, and Fenn was a Teddy Nesbitt away from opening the scoring after his flick header was cleared off the line by the Aveley left back.

But after the Millers had stood up to what Needham had thrown at them so far, they were then given the advantage in personnel as the visitors were reduced to 10 thanks to a straight red card for Samuel Nunn.

After Aaron Gayle had lost the ball on the edge of the area the ball popped out towards Petrit Elbi just outside the box. Nunn went in with his studs showing and caught Elbi with the referee having no hesitation in brandishing a straight red.

Tajbakhsh forced James Shea to show good hands from the resulting free kick and now the emphasis was on the home side to press home their numerical advantage and take control of the game.

Despite being down to 10, Needham were continuing to look threatening and almost opened the scoring themselves when Izzet blasted a free kick off the face of the crossbar with the rebound being blazed over.

Eventually, though, the Millers did make their numerical advantage count and they took the lead through substitute Daryl Atkins who opened the scoring for the home side with a delicate finish.

On the turn, Ross Wall clipped a ball towards the far post which was flicked up in the air by Fenn and towards Atkins. With Shea bearing down on him Atkins toe-poked the ball first time past the ‘keeper, towards the inside of the post and in despite the best efforts of the recovering defender.

The goal set the Millers on their way towards what would have been a morale boosting win over an impressive Needham side, but there was more than enough shown by 10-man Needham to suggest a second goal was required to secure a vital three points.

Junior Appiah forced Shea into a save as he looked for his fifth goal in as many games and Wall blasted one over the bar after being laid off by Elbi as the Millers looked for that decisive second.

But whilst the score remained at 1-0 the visitors were always in with a chance and with less than 10 minutes remaining of the 90 Needham found that leveller through Newson.

A disputed corner was quickly played towards the far post by Izzet and headed down by Fenn. The knock down found Newson unmarked yards out as he glanced his header in for the equaliser.

After such a poor run of recent results it was a heart-breaker for Aveley who had three points in their hands, but there was still time for either side to find a winner and with five minutes of added on time shown there was ample opportunity for either side to nick it.

In the end Izzet came closest to recording a remarkable win for the visitors when he wrong footed Giddens with a free kick that went up and over the wall, but was just palmed away by the Aveley ‘keeper with the sides settling for a point a piece.

“I think before the game you would have said Needham Market were going to be strong. Then you probably look at our performance on Saturday (vs Waltham Forest) and you would say that a point probably would have been taken.” said head-coach Adam Flanagan.

“But then again every game we into we want to win. So disappointed we didn’t get three points but before the game maybe we would have settled for one.”

Ryan O’Rawe, who was making his first appearance for the team at centre half alongside Jay Leader, said after the match “I thought it was much improved from Saturday.”

“I came over and watched on Saturday and, I’ll be honest, I was doubting whether I’d sign it was so dreadful.

“But much improved tonight and I think we stepped it up against a better side, because they were a good side, but I thought we more than matched them.”

Aveley: Jack Giddens, Alan Mabuyaku (Danny Hopkins 40’), Teddy Nesbitt, Jay Leader, Ryan O’Rawe, Brian Okwera, Ross Wall, Aryan Tajbakhsh, Aaron Gayle (Daryl Atkins 57’), Petrit Elbi (c), Junior Appiah (Rashid Kamara 90’)